Sorting Through the Rhetoric
- FICTION
- "WMC is undergoing an $83 million expansion that brings an additional 59 beds into service, provides the county’s largest ambulatory surgery center and has responded to the need for medical office space, allowing relocation of a variety of primary care physicians and specialists. The CON granted for this expansion by the state took into account the current and projected population growth in Spring Hill."
- Coalition4Care 'About Us' Web Site
- FACT
- Williamson Medical Center's own population projections presented to the HSDA in 2002 when it applied for the CON for the current hospital expansion grossly underestimated the projected population and need for a Hospital to serve Spring Hill Citizens. Williamson Medical Center projected the population of Spring Hill to be 8,405 in 2005 and 9,992 in 2010. According to a city-wide special census completed in 2005, the City of Spring Hill had a certified population of 17,325. According to the Spring Hill Code and Planning department, in 2010 the population of Spring Hill is projected to be over 40,000.
- Williamson Medical Center's own population projections presented to the HSDA in 2002 when it applied for the CON for the current hospital expansion grossly underestimated the projected population and need for a Hospital to serve Spring Hill Citizens. Williamson Medical Center projected the population of Spring Hill to be 8,405 in 2005 and 9,992 in 2010. According to a city-wide special census completed in 2005, the City of Spring Hill had a certified population of 17,325. According to the Spring Hill Code and Planning department, in 2010 the population of Spring Hill is projected to be over 40,000.
- Is it Fiction?
- You've seen the ads. They have been printed in The Advertiser, The Spring Hill Journal, The Williamson Herald and The Williamson AM. In the ad, Williamson Medical Center suggests that TriStar hospitals have significantly greater average patient charges then Williamson Medical Center. Here's the comparison Williamson Medical Center presents:
- Centennial Medical Center - $29,907
- Williamson Medical Center - $13,988
- Williamson Medical Center - $13,988
- FACT
- What the ad doesn't mention is that Centennial Medical Center performs major surgical procedures that Williamson Medical doesn't have the capacity to provide. Procedures such as Open Heart Surgery and Organ Transplants that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Instead of comparing an Apple to a Lemon, wouldn't WMC want to compare similar procedure costs? Why mislead the public in such an irresponsible way?
How about an Apple to Apple comparison? According to the CON Request, proposed Spring Hill Hospital will have similar costs to Stonecrest Medical Center. - What the ad doesn't mention is that Centennial Medical Center performs major surgical procedures that Williamson Medical doesn't have the capacity to provide. Procedures such as Open Heart Surgery and Organ Transplants that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- Stonecrest Medical Center - $14,475
The difference between Williamson Medical Center and Stonecrest? Less then $500.- American Hospital Directory
- American Hospital Directory
- FICTION
- While we are on the subject of misleading ads printed by Williamson Medical Center, have you seen the one where WMC suggests that the economic impact of a new Spring Hill Hospital will result in a loss of $19 Million during the first 5 years of the new faciliy's operation?
- Williamson Herald, and Williamson AM - Sunday, June 11, 2006
- FACT
- Take a look at the following projected revenue for Williamson Medical Center as submitted in the CON Request by TriStar:
$19 Million Loss, or $56 Million Increase in Revenue? - Take a look at the following projected revenue for Williamson Medical Center as submitted in the CON Request by TriStar:
- FICTION
- "For nine months, long before HCA’s proposal to build a Spring Hill hospital, MRH and WMC have been working with the City of Spring Hill and the Maury and Williamson County Commissions to station an ambulance within Spring Hill proper."
- Coalition4Care 'About Us' Web Site
- FACT
- Spring Hill officials first asked MRH and WMC to provide ambulance service based out of Spring Hill in July of 2004.
- Spring Hill officials first asked MRH and WMC to provide ambulance service based out of Spring Hill in July of 2004.
- FICTION
- (Maury Regional Hospital CEO Robert) Otwell said Maury Regional officials should have been included in preliminary discussions prior to the announcement by TriStar of intentions to locate in Spring Hill.
“I wish someone would have said ‘we’ve got to have a hospital, let’s talk about it,” he said. “But we learned about it as you did.” - Columbia Daily Herald - Maury Regional rips new hospital plan April 18, 2006
- FACT
- In an open letter to the Spring Hill BOMA, Darlene Baxter acknowledges that Maury Regional Hospital knew that Spring Hill was look for a hospital as she refers to an article that appeared in the Tennessean on November 2, 2005, in which Ken York is quoted as saying:
"There was speculation that HCA was going to build a hospital here, but then we saw a plan that did not include a hospital," City Administrator Ken York said.
Also, it has widely been speculated in the community that Maury Regional Hospital was looking at sites in Spring Hill to build their own hospital. - In an open letter to the Spring Hill BOMA, Darlene Baxter acknowledges that Maury Regional Hospital knew that Spring Hill was look for a hospital as she refers to an article that appeared in the Tennessean on November 2, 2005, in which Ken York is quoted as saying:
- IS IT FICTION?
- Otwell also addressed recent rumors that the hospital did not accept TriCare insurance — TriCare provides coverage of military personnel and their families. He said MRH is not listed in TriCare’s authorized coverage book, but the hospital will treat anyone with the insurance and consider any thing they are reimbursed by the company as payment.
- Columbia Daily Herald - MRH CEO: New facility not needed May 2, 2006
- FACT
- Although this statement may now be true, Maury Regional Hospital did not accept TriCare until this retired Army Officer's letter to the editor that appeared in the Columbia Daily Herald on April 28, 2006.
- Although this statement may now be true, Maury Regional Hospital did not accept TriCare until this retired Army Officer's letter to the editor that appeared in the Columbia Daily Herald on April 28, 2006.
- FICTION
- "HCA only takes patients who have insurance, not those who have trouble paying or cannot pay."
- Joe Bell, MRH Volunteer in a letter to the editor that appeared in the Columbia Daily Herald on April 16, 2006.
- FACT
- TriStar is the largest TennCare provider in the state of Tennessee, does take uninsured patients, providing free care to those patients who are at 200% of the federal poverty level, and offers coverage by offering a discount to all other uninsured patients:
- TriStar is the largest TennCare provider in the state of Tennessee, does take uninsured patients, providing free care to those patients who are at 200% of the federal poverty level, and offers coverage by offering a discount to all other uninsured patients:
- Kloess said TriStar facilities care for patients “regardless of financial status” by offering a 40 percent discount for uninsured patients. TriStar is the largest TennCare provider, with about 20 percent of all patients enrolled, he said.
- Columbia Daily Herald - TriStar officials answer questions about hospital April 26, 2006
- Columbia Daily Herald - TriStar officials answer questions about hospital April 26, 2006
13 comments:
huh?
you mean that williamson and maury would intentionally mislead?
I have told the truth regardng where I live. Tell me this, since you obviously are the freakin expert, where should I say I live? It isn't Columbia. I didn't make up my address. I live in Spring Hill as much as Danny does with his Thompson Station address. Furthermore, it wouldn't matter if I lived in Kalamazoo, I have just as much of a right to express my beliefs about this hospital as you do. And to the jerk who ranted and raved about not ever coming to MRH or WMC.... I cannot speak on behalf of WMC and MRH, but I can speak for myself. You are probably one of the many manipulative people who play the system to get what they need from ER to ER. I see people like you everyday who abuse the system, and thus run up insurance premiums for the rest of us. Quite frankly the fact that you would put your own life in danger just to prove a point represents how much intelligence you have. And let us be real for a minute, Danny is the person who started this whole adversarial relationship, not MRH or WMC. I pointed out very early on that the "too little too late" garbage was going to do nothing to help the relationship between these entities. You represent what many people incorrectly feel, you think that if we are against this TriStar hospital, we are against Spring Hill and nothing could be further from the truth. So go pop your Lortab and drink your booze while the rest of us live productive lives. This tantrum of "we don't love you anymore" is played out in homes all across America everyday, and guess what, just like parents, these two hospitals will continue to be there for you all, even though you have spat in their faces.
FInally, here is a big news flash. If and when MRH and WMC are unable to pay the bills due to this TriStar hospital, guess who will have to make up the difference by way of increased property taxes? That would be you Mr. Springhillman. So go ahead and cut off your nose to spite your face. Just like an adolescent who runs away from home, MRH and WMC will always be there to take you back in.
Your outburst reminds me of the drunks who curse and spit when their blood alcohol is around 300 and then start bawling and apologizing when it gets down around 50. Throw your tantrum and make your threats. It is only your health and your wallet that will be worse off. In a way I hope that you get to experience the HCA healthcare and the increased property taxes that will happen when MRH is unable to meet their budget. Then maybe you will realize what we all have been trying to tell you, this is a bad move. Have fun and remember Lortabs have 500 mg of Tylenol in them and you shouldn't exceed 4000 mg of Tylenol a day or you may lose your cool and post threats about being unconscious and wearing bracelets that say "take me to Nashville." By the way, don't forget that all the hospitals in Nashville that aren't HCA oppose this too, so you may want to get bracelets that say take me to Kentucky. CA
Oh my, I actually agree with CA for once... well, kind of.
SpringHillMan Said:
"Let's get real, bascially NO ONE would ever go to MRH before this and many would by-pass WMC.
NOW WE ALL WILL BY-PASS you both."
Let's keep in perspective that MRH and WMC are fighting Spring Hill Hospital to protect their own 'Strategic Plans', as any business would (see Williamson Herald, 6/8/2006)
Bustetter said:
"The more we are able to operate according to our own strategic plans, the better that is for everyone involved."
WMC and MRH provide vital services to our city and will continue to do so with or without a Spring Hill Hospital. There's nothing personal about their opposition, that's where CA and I agree.
Here's where we strongly disagree:
"Danny is the person who started this whole adversarial relationship, not MRH or WMC."
CA:
Three years of Spring Hill trying to get an ambulance based inside city limits resulted in an offer from MRH to have Spring Hill buy an ambulance and pay for the staffing.
Along comes TriStar...
Now MRH and WMC are ready to 'pony up' and provide an ambulance in Spring Hill. Coincidence? Nah.
The only chain getting jerked around in the Ambulance issue by MRH and WMC is Mayor Leverette and Spring Hill Residents.
Silverback, the world must be coming to an end! To tensvols,
the main reason why physicians are not getting involved in this, as per my conversations with many of them, is because there is absolutely nothing to gain by debating this on a blog or in the paper. They know that the decision is not up to the citizens, so why stick their necks out for an issue that is going to be decided by the board regardless of what they think? However, if you read the paper, watch the TV, or listen to the radio, physicians have made very sterile statements as to the need or absence thereof for this hospital. The MRH and WMC Medical Executive Committees (read the physicians who are the decision makers for the hospital) have signed statement against the hospital. John Simmons was interviewed on maurynewsnet and expressed his support. Dr. Jobe in Spring Hill expressed his support.
Think about this, why would a physician who gets all of his or her business from referalls and maintaining their reputation stick their neck out and risk losing their business? Michael and I cango back and forth on our sites (and Michael has made plenty jabs at me as well) and what do we lose? Nothing. My wife freaks out occassionally when she thinks someone is going to do something to us,but other than that,what do I have to lose? I had to pass on a job at HCA, but I probably would have not enjoyed working for them again anyway, given that they have already screwed me over once.
While Michael and I go back and forth, because admittedly from our conversation last night, it is kinda fun, this between the hospitals involved (and keep in mind there are more involved than just MRH and WMC)is all about business and who makes their next move.
And by the way, I had to cut my coversation with one of the Alderman last night because I had to go " save lives." I do actually have plenty of other things to do besides argue back and forth on this site with people who are so passionate that they hide behind user names and anonymous. However, this issue is important enough that the other side of it must be exposed.
CA
Hello Gorilla
The good times are over and i am back to be a pain. Two things made me come back.
One was, that at the time of my last post i honestly thought things had turned a corner and were about done. I know that two presentations were made by ambulance services, one very good and one not so good. Some new information has come my way that makes me concerned. I stand by my statement that what i heard from one company was impressive. I now hear that some have questions about them being able to deliver all that was promised. It was asked of me so i am asking you, you said that they are taking applications localy. What are they paying and are they requiring only medics with emergency experience? If they are not willing to equal or beat all of the emergency services in the area then they will not get experienced medics to work there. If they cannot staff all positions are they going to pull convelescent crews to cover? Bottom line if they cannot get good local crews then all of their impressive tech will look pretty and that is about all. I also understand that there is some difference of opinion among some city officials as to which service they want. If they pick the second service then the past history and mission statement of this company would prove that we would not get the service we need.
They other reason was a question asked of me. By your own post spring hill has been looking at its own ems service since 2004. The question was why did they not just put it in the budget and get ambulances. This is a valid question that needs to be answered. This is after all the expressed goal for the city , fire based ems. The budget year started July 1 and most budgets are put together around Jan of Feb. This would have given plenty of time between 2004 and jan 2006 to plan for the costs of an ems service. My underatanding is that one of the problems the city has is the cost. The million dollars spent now is nothing compared to the costs to start the service in 5 years when the population is over 40,000. How much will it costs to do then when you have to spend millions on more fire, police, streets, water etc and then add ems. Also will the elected officials have the backbone to take on the costs or will the they follow the path of least resistence. Also when the 5 year contract is up will tri star charge for the service to be continued under a new contract, i have not heard this discussed. One other thing is that I know with out a doubt that the fire dept would have no problem hiring local experienced medics but depending on which of the two others they get it could be a problem. It seems to me that the city could put a small property tax back to pay for fire based ems if the city is soo hard up for money. I know that all of the "we want our own ems " people would pay a tax to have ems in the fire dept.
Please address any of the above questions if you can. Good Day
Be safe all
ole fire fighter
Hey, MRH or WMC or any of your spokesmen,
Since you have spoken out so strongly on the fact that Spring Hill does not need a hospital, please answer this question and be as honest as you can be.
If you beat back HCA do you admit that all this rhetoric about Spring Hill not needing their own hospital is nothing but a lie and a cover for the fact that you both were asleep at the wheel and now that you have been slapped awake by HCA you really want to put a hospital here, yourselves. ANSWER please.
Chandler, as one of their spokesman, please answer for them if you can, if not give us your opinion as to whether you think they would ever build a hospital here themselves?
Consider please that soon Spring Hill will be a much bigger and far more attractive city to retailers and potential citizens than Columbia, and someday even possibly bigger than Franklin.
Consider that Spring Hill becomes a better and more liveable city everyday.
Consider that there is a very high percentage of people living here that actually have their own insurance because they have worked hard to be educated and worked hard to find good jobs.
Please consider that the moment we get our hospital many assisted living and senior housing developments will come to Spring Hill.
Tell us the truth on this question...
Gorilla
SO rural metro has the service for spring hill. This is truly a sad day. It is interesting to me how this thing could go bad so fast. I guess Scottsdale Arizona's experience meant nothing to anyone. Compared to what we could have had, patient care in Spring Hill took a huge nose dive. I guess I can put my resume away. Very few experienced medics that I know( and I know many of them in this area) are going to leave any service to go to Rural Metro. There goes the local medic pool. Stand by for convelescent crews. How can anyone think that a company that could not make a convelescent service work in Nashville will be able to provide top emergency service in Spring Hill.
UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED- THE CITY HAS LET THE FOX INTO THE CHICKEN COOP.
If anyone thinks Rural Metro plans to stop with emergency ambulances in Spring Hill you are sadly mistaken. They will go after the convelescent buisness. Then they will target fire and ems all through Williamson County, including Spring Hill Fire. They have already tried once to get fire protection in Williamson County and failed. If you doubt this read the statements by this company. By their own statments they use emergency services to get convelescent contracts in areas. If Spring Hill is not able to work out a contract then they have lost alot of the bargaining power they had by going with this company. What motivation does Rural Metro have to not do convelescent runs now, Spring Hill has backed themselves into a corner with few options if they do not agree.
Gorilla you know by my past comments that I have a strong opinion on this subject but my opinions are based on facts. My goal has always been to see the best ems care possible. This is not what we got. Instead of making hard decisions and providing fire based ems now or keeping the first rate ems we have they followed the path of least resistence. The "we want our own ems" people traded quality for quantity. They get two units of lower quality and I hope they can live with that. I hope we can all live with that but I have my doubts.
be safe all
ole fire fighter
Chandler continues to demonize anyone who opposes his strange logic. It is sad that he impugns people's integrity by suggesting they take Lortab and drink booze.
Chandler, you are really obsessed with your hatred of Spring Hill.
It sounds like he just hates the stupid people, not everyone.
Reading the story about the pastor and the donkey made me think of a story that explains how we got rural metro.
-In the beginning was the plan
-then came the assumptions
- and the assumptions were without form
-and the plan was completely without substance
-and the darkness was upon the face of the workers
-and they spoke amongst themselves saying "IT IS A CROCK OF S*#T AND IT STINKETH"
-and the workers went unto their supervisors and sayeth "IT IS A PAIL OF DUNG AND NONE MAY ABIDE THE ODOR THEREOF"
-and the supervisors went unto their managers and sayeth unto them " IT IS A CONTAINER OF EXCRETEMENT AND IT IS VERY STRONG SUCH THAT NONE MAY ABIDE BY IT"
-and the managers went unto their directors and sayeth " IT IS A VESSEL OF FERTILIZER AND NONE MAY ABIDE ITS STRENGTH "
-and the directors spoke amongst themselves, saying to one another " IT CONTAINS THAT WHICH AIDS PLANT GROWTH AND IS VERY STRONG "
-and the directors went unto the vice presidents and sayeth unto them "IT PROMOTES GROWTH AND IS VERY POWERFUL"
-and the vice presidents went unto the president and sayeth to him "THE NEW PLAN WILL ACTIVELY PROMOTE THE GROWTH AND EFFICIENCY OF THIS COMPANY AND THESE AREAS IN PARTICULAR"
-and the president looked upon the plan and saw that it was good and the plan became policy.
And That IS How we got
Rural Metro
be safe all
ole fire fighter
I thought some of the opened minded people would find this interesting.
Top Stories:
Alternate ambulance service offer remains on table
By NANCY GLASSCOCK/Staff Writer
SPRING HILL — Williamson Medical Center EMS Director Allen Lovett said an offer from WMC and Maury Regional Hospital for ambulance service remains open for consideration by city officials, while Mayor Danny Leverette said the city is working out a contract with TriStar Health System for the service.
“We reviewed all of the offers and the go ahead has been given to HCA to pursue a contract with Rural Metro with input from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and final approval from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen,” Leverette said.
Spring Hill leaders said Friday they are working out details of a three-year contract with TriStar and Rural Metro of Tennessee to provide emergency medical services to city residents. The service is expected to begin in early September and will provide emergency transportation to the patient’s hospital of choice, officials said.
On May 8, the Maury County Commission’s Budget Committee approved an ambulance service by WMC and MRH while on the same day, Leverette announced intentions of partnering with TriStar Health System for the service. Leverette said in May the offer from WMC and MRH was appreciated, but “a little too late.”
“We have reached out to both Maury Regional and Williamson County and neither saw a need, so we went and took care of that need,” he said.
At Monday’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, Lovett read aloud from a document he said was a clarification intended to answer questions about WMC’s proposal of an ambulance service.
“For whatever reason, it was decided not to discuss the proposal with us but rather to directly go to TriStar for discussion,” Lovett said. “And subsequently, in conversations I’ve had with aldermen and the city of Spring Hill, there were a lot of questions and perhaps assumptions regarding the original proposal that I felt needed clarified.”
Leverette said he viewed the clarification as an opportunity to offer more information contained in the original proposal. He said city officials did not ask Lovett to speak at the meeting.
“Our meetings are well publicized so I felt they saw an opportunity to pursue another addendum to what they had already, in conjunction with Maury Regional, proposed,” Leverette said.
Alderman Jonathan Duda said because the city hasn’t entered a binding contract with Rural Metro, he isn’t prepared to dismiss the offer from WMC and MRH.
“I think that until a definitive agreement is signed with TriStar and the third party provider that all options should at least be considered,” he said.
The ambulance service from TriStar is not contingent on whether a certificate of need for HCA and TriStar’s proposed 56-bed hospital in Spring Hill receives state approval, officials said.
Supporters of a Spring Hill hospital recently announced the accumulation of more than 7,000 signatures in support of the project.
Nancy Glasscock may be contacted at nglasscock@c-dh.net or (931) 388-6464 ext. 3021.
This sure sounds to me like we are back to "too litle too late". I know Allen Lovett and his attending the boma metting is one more attempt to give Spring Hill the ems coverage we need. Bravo to Alderman Duda keep an open mind.
It sure sounds like Rural Metro is waiting to lock themselves in until the con is decided.
The mayor has played a good game of brinksmanship but the key is to know when to step back. Instead we get more comments that only serve to destroy any working relationship with wmc-ems. The time has come to stop letting HCA negotiate for us and act in the citizens best interest.
If the choice is between WMC and Rural Metro, that is an easy one.
be safe all
ole fire fighter
I currently work for Rural/Metro Ambulance and believe it is an excellent company. R/M Knoxville is the only CAAS service in the state of Tennessee. R/M Memphis had the same welcoming that "ole firefighter" is providing. The FF of Shelby County and it's municipalities have a great working relationship with R/M. Hopefully you will see this too.
As far as company standards go R/M is the best to work for. Benefits we get at R/M are superior by far to any ambulance service in the Memphis area. Perhaps in time Springhill Paramedis will realize this if they take they time to look at R/M benefit package.
I wish you all the best.
To anon 8/6 @14:56
Hello, First I respect your comments and opinion. You must understand that R/M is comming to a tough area. The services here already pay above average and have good benefits. The medics that I have talked with, face to face over a smoke and a coke are not going to leave where they are to go to R/M. If that proves to be true then that leaves only inexperienced, burnouts, and convelescent crews. A service as you know is only as good as it's people. They are also being hurt by their previous attempts to operate in this area.
I imagine that compaired to ASI, R/M is a big step up in pay, benefits, and service.
Be careful on the job, remember everybody goes home.
be safe all
ole fire fighter
Post a Comment